Optical apparatus for instructional purposes



W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES F i l6d 2, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 A; A from/Er W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed NOV. 2, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 WW/g? 4 L-L/UTO IVEY 1,521,339 W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed NOV- 3, 1922 Sheets-Sheet 3 153 I R92 45; :3 a I 1 W C W3 51 M ATTOR/Vf) {33 3%, E924. L5ZL339 W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES FiledNOV- 2, 1922 l Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 39. 1924.

W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed Nov. 2, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 L4 A TTOR/VE r Dec. 3Q, 1924. 1,521,339

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vy. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed Nov. 2, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVEA/TUH Ll; ATTORNEY De 3Q. 1924.

W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed Nov. 2, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 arvon/m mm, m 2924. 1,521,339

W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed Nov. ,2, 1922 15 SheetsSheel: 9

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W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed NOV, 2, 1922 De 3 E924. 11,521,339

W. TAYLOR OPTICAL Hummus FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES FiledNov. 2, 1 922 '15 Sheets-Sheet 1-2 @1955? 302; HIqQEEP I 400 x j I q 5 E J0 v1 A ATTORNEY Dec. 36. 1924.

W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES F i led Nov. z, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 1a IN !/E N TOR Dec, 30. 1924. 1,521,339

W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed NOV. 2, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 M A TTOR/VEV W. TAYLOR OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES Filed Nov. 2, 1922 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 Q \s i q 9 INVENTOR A44 AA-ATTORNEY E. SW wwm. v QM m 5- Q KN RN QM m n m Q. r -aiilldl I I -ll QM 31% 943mm livgww MI.W1 X I a? @N 7 x Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM TAYLOR, or LEICESTER, ENGLAND.

OPTICAL APPARATUS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES.

Application filed November 2, 1922. Serial No. 598,527.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM -T iYLOR, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Leicester, in the county of Leicestershire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Optlcal Apparatus for Instructional Purposes, fully described and represented in the follow1ng specification and the accompanylng drawings, forming a part of the same,

This invention relates to optical apparatus intended especially for instructional purposes, and the invention aims primarily to facilitate elementary education 1n the design, construction, propert1es, and use of optical instruments, by providingeflicient apparatus for this purpose at a minimum of cost.

Heretofore separate and distinct optical instruments alone have been available, and the cost of a variety of these instruments sufiijcient for use in elementary instructlon in optics has been so high that education in this science has been neglected.

The fundamental idea of the present invention is to provide a number of interchangeable optical and mechanical elements from which, in a simple way, a variety of different optical instruments can be built up. The making of elements thus adapted for use interchangeably in building a variety of optical instruments greatly reduces the cost in the provision of all such instruments.

Apparatus embodying the invention 1ncludes optical elements such as lenses and mirrors, and mechanical elements, all of such elements being so formed and so proportioned one to another that they may bedetachably connected with one another in different combinations and relationships to form complete optical instruments of different kinds, that is, instruments in each of which the optical elements are so united and so protected from mechanical injury or disturbance and from the access of stray light that the instrument can be used in the same manner-and under the same conditions as an ordinary optical instrument of the same kind. The instruments which may be built up from the elements of the apparatus ininclude, in addition to magnifiers -whose component parts are held in fixed relation to another during the use of the magnifier,

terchangeably containing the lenses and protecting them from stray light, and interchangeable elements for detachably securing the lens elements in the tubular elements and for spacing them in various different ways in the tubular elements; second, optical elements other than lenses, such as mirrors and prisms; and third, interchangeable supporting and connecting elements providing means for mounting the tubular elements in various different relations to other tubular elements and to objects to be observed, and for mounting the optical elements other than lenses outside the tubes in various different relations thereto.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will describe in detail approved apparatus embodying it, in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating such apparatus. The description will cover first the various interchangeable elements of the. apparatus, and second, a number of, optical instruments which may be built up from these elements. In said drawings Figs. 1 1:0;37 inclusive, all drawn upon the same scale, show the separate elements of the apparatus; and

Figs. 38 to 63 inclusive show various optical instruments formed by combining these elements.

Figs; 1, 1 and 1 show the large tube element 10 and the spring box element 40 mounted in one end thereof, Fig. 1 being an end elevation and Figs. 1 and 1 being side views showing the tube element sectioned on the lines b?) and cc of Fig. 1 respectively Figs. 2 2" and 2 show the connecting sleeve element 20, Fig. 2 being an end ele- "vation and Fig. 5 an end elevation;

Fig. 6 is an axial section of the lens element 60;

Fig. 7 is an axial section of the lens elementjGO;

Figs. 8 and 8"; show the peep-hole element 70, Fig. 8* being an end elevation and F i 8 being an axial section;

igs. 9* and 9* show the slit element 80, Fig. 9* being an end elevation and Fig. 9 an axial section;

Figs. 10*, 10 10 and 10 show the liner elements 90; 100 and 110, Figs. 10 and 10 being respectively an end elevation and an axial section of the element 90, and Figs. 10 and 10 being respectively axial sections of the elements 100 and 110;

Figs. 11 and 11 show the lens element 120, Fig. 11 being an axial section and Fig. 11 being an end elevation;

Fig. 12 is an axial section of the lens element 130;

Figs. 13 and 13 show the spring retainer element 140, Fig. 13 being an end view and Fig. 13 a side view;

Fig. 14 is an axial section of the eyecu element 150;

igEs 15 and 15 show the cage element 160, ig. 15 being an end view and Fig. 15 a side view;

Figs. 16 and 16 show the lens element 170, Fig. 16 being an axial section and Fig. 16 being an end view;

Figs. 17 and 17 show the cage element 180, Fig. 17 being an end view and Fig. 17 b a side view;

Figs, 18*, 18 and 18 show the spacer elements 190 and 190, Fig. 18 being an. end

' view of either element and Figs. 18 and 18" being side views of the elements 190 and 190 respectively;

Figs. 19 and 19 show the glass disc element 200, Fig. 19 being an axial section and Fig. 19 an end view;

Figs. 20 and 20 show the three-mirror element 210, Fig. 20 being a side view and Fig. 2O an end view;

Figs. 21 and 21 show the mirror element 220, the figures being respectively side and front elevations;

Figs. 22 and 22 show the mirror element 230, Fig. 22 being a front elevation and Fig. 22* being a section on the line b-Z) of Fig. 22*;

Figs. 23 and 23* show the mirror element 240, Fig. 23* being a front elevation and Fig, 23 a section on the line bb of I Fig. 23;

Fig. 24 is a view of the spherical mirror element 250;

Figs. 25 and 25* show the prism element 260, the figures being respectively end and side elevations;

Figs. 26*, 26 and 26-show a tripod stand formed by the pillar element 270 and threefeet elements 280 and the stage element 350 attached to the pillar element, Fig. 26 being a top View, Fig. 26 a side view, and Fig. 26 a section on the line c0 of Fig. 26.

Figs. 2, 27 and 27 show the swivel element 290, the figures being respectively a plan view, a front elevation, and a. side elevation; f I 7 Figs. 28*, 28 show the'"saddle and girth element 300, Fig. 28 being a plan view, and Fig. 28 being a section, on. the line 6-4) of Fig. 28;

Figs. 29 and 29 show the cradleelement 310, the figures being respectively an end.

and a perspective view;

Figs. 30 ,30 and 30 show the bracket element 320, the figures being respectively a plan view, a front elevation andv an end elevation;

Figs. 31*, 31 31 show the pivoted cradle elements 330 and 330*, Fig. 31 being a plan View, Fig. 31 a fragmentary elevation, and Fig. 31 a fragmentary section on the line cc of Fig. 31;

. Figs, 32, 32 and 32 show the spring clip element 340, the figures being respectively a plan view and an end view and a side view;

Figs. 33 and 38* show the link element 360, the figures being respectively a side View and an edge view;

Figs. 34* and 34 show the bridge elcment 370, the figures being respectively :1 side View and an edge view;

Figs. 35, 35 and 35 show the skew holder element 380, the figures being respectively a plan view, an end view, and a side view;

Fig. 36 is a side view of one of the screws and nuts by means of which the mechanical elements are secured together;

Fig. 37 is a side view of the stud and sleeve element 390;

Figs. 38 to 42 inclusive are axial sections of various types of niagnifiers;

Figs. 43* and 43* show a microscope with a fixed vertical axis, the figures being respectively side and front elevations;

Figs. 44*, 44 and 44 show a microscope whose axis may be inclined, the figures being respectively a plan and a side elevation of the microscope, and a plan view of a stop a used therein;

Figs. 45 and 46 show a stand for mounting a small telescope (the feet of the stand beingbinitted), Fig. 415 being a side elevaipaigase tion and Fig. 46 being a fragmentary front 2 elevation Figs. 4 7 to 50 inclusive are axial sections of various forms of small telescopes;

Fig. 51 is a plan view partly 1n section of an astronomical telescope and a small finder telescope mounted therewith;

Figs. 52 and 52 show the elements for mounting and adjusting the finder telescope of a simple periscope;

. Fig. 58 is an axial section of a submarine type of periscope;

Fig. 59 is an axial section of the optical system of a camera obscura;

Fig. 60 is a plan view of a sextant mounted on a stand;

Fig. 61'is a plan view of a spectroscope mounted .on a stand;

Figs. 62?, 62 show a heliograph, the figures beingrespectively a plan and an elevation; and l Fig. 63 is a/plan View of a binocular tele- 3 scope.

The lens elements, the tubular elements, and the elements for detachably mounting the lenses in the tubes.

Each of these elements is providedwith an internal or external cylindrical surface adapted to fit interchangeably within or over the cylindrical surface of other elements. Some of the elements, particularly those which are tubular in form, are providedwith both external and internal cylindrical sur-' faces "for. fitting other elements. In con-f structing the elements, the external cylindrical surfaces and the intergal cylindrical sur-v faces of different elements whichfit together are made of the same nominal size, but a tolerance is allowed for variatiom likely to occur in workmanship. This tolerance is minus in the case of external cylindrical surfaces and plus in the case of internal cylindrical surfaces. This general principle is followed throughout the elements to be described, except that it is modified somewhat, as hereinafter noted, in the case of elements capable of expansion and contraction. Although the surfaces of these elements which fit together are shown in the drawings as cylindrical, the short cylindrical.

edges of the lens elements, and other similar bevelled or made part spherical for greater I facility in placing them within other elements. It should be understood that all such modified forms are hereinafter includediin the term cylindrical.

. Two principal tubular elements are provided in the apparatus, a large tube 10 and asmall tube or sheath 50. In the particular apparatus illustrated, these tubular elements serve both asholding elements for containca elements and as shrouding elements to protect the optical elements contained therein from the access of stray light.

The large tube element 10, (shown in Figs. -1, 1 ,.1,) may conveniently be'constructed of cardboard and is about 19 inches long. I usually provide more than one of these tubes, and in order to join two such tubes. endwise, a connecting sleeve element 20 is provided.

The sleeve element 20 (shown in Figs. 2 2 2) is'stamped' from sheet metal and has a cylindrical body 21 with a joint 22,

one edge of which has an extension 23,

adapted to overlap the other edge and exclude light; and four upturned lugs 24, adapted'fo'r closing together by screws and nuts,'whereby the sleeve may be attached to either end of the tube element 16, so that it may be used to unite the ends of two such tubes, as hereafter shown. The sleeve element 20 may be used also for mounting a mirror at one end of a tube element 10. To provide for this use of the element, the body 21' hastwo parallel and supporting lenses and other optiinc lugs 25 extending lengthwise at one end i and pierced with Ice 26, on an axis cross-1 ing that of the body 21 at right angles, .and a projection 27.

There are two lens elements, 30 and 30 adapted to fit interchangeably into either end of a tube element 10. The element 30 (Figs. 3 and 3) consists of a plano-convex lens and its mounting. The lens 31 is fitted removably within a cup-shaped stamping of metal 32, and retained by a ring 33 adapted to be s rung into said stamping. The stamping 3 is adaptedto fit in one end of .the tube element 10, and has an outwardly projecting flange 34 adapted to abut against the end of said element so as to position the element 30' squarely therein, and also adapted to be held within the sleeve element 20. The element 30 (Fig. 4) issimilar to the element30 except that its lens 31 is achromatic.

The other lens elements included in the apparatus do not fit directly in the large tube '10, but may be mounted by various means in the smaller tube or sheath 50, while the sheath itself may be mounted centrally in either end of the large tube 10 by a springbox element 40.

elements hereinafter I described, may be The'spring box element 40 (shown in one means of freely, and the part 41 has at each end two lugs 45 formed into little raised bosses which lie within the apertures of the cups and form isolated points of bearing for thesheath; A notch 46 in each cup, in line with the space 47 between the inturned edges of the centre part 41 and symmetrically opposite the lugs 45, accommodates the bowshaped spring 48, which is stamped from sheet metal and has on the outer face of the bow a facing 48 of felt or the like adapted to press upon the sheath to urge it against its bearings 45 and to hold it frictionally, as shown in Fig. 53, one end of the bow being pointed to enter, and adapted to seat against the bottom of, the notch 46 in one of the cups, the other end being bent to form a finger-piece 48 by which the spring may be pushed in or withdrawn, and a notch 48 .Which, when the spring is in place in the .spring box, engages the other of the cups at the bottom of the notch 46 so as to secure the spring in place longitudinally. The outer perlpheral edges of the cups are adapted to fit securely within the tube 10.

' The smaller tube or sheath element 50 (Figs. 5 and 5") is formed of a piece of sheet metal having one of its edges 51 raised and closely overlapping the other, 52, so as to exclude light. Preferably these edges are united, for example by welding, for about the middle third of the length of the tube, while their other parts are left free for elastic movement. The internal diameter of said middle third of the tube is given a tolerance which is plus with respect to the,nominal size, which is prefer- ,ably one inch, but the ends being free spring somewhat so as to hold frictionally other constructional elements which are adapted to fit interchangeably therein.

Two lens elements, .60 and may be mounted directly in either end of the sheath element 50. The element 60 (Fig. .6) consists of an objective preferablyachromatic mounted between two sheet metal stampings, its cylindrical periphery 62 being adapted to fit interchangeably in either end of the sheath element 50 and having an outwardly projecting flange 63 adapted to abut against the end of said sheath element so as to position the lens squarely therein. In order that the objective may serve for use alternatively as either a wet or dry microscope objective, we leave the spherical aberration of the dry lens under-corrected to such slight extent that the same objective, when used as an immersion lens, becomes overcorrected to an approximately equal slight extent. The element 60 (Fig. 7) consists of an achromatic objective and its mounting,

of higher power than that of the element 60.

A peep-hole element may also be mounted-directly in,either end of the sheath element 50. The element 70 (Figs. 8 and 8") hole element 70 .two duplicate plates 81, by

means of screws and nuts 82, passing through holes 73, 74 in the element 70, so that the distance between the contiguous straight edges of the plates 81 may be adj ustably set.

There are a number of lens elements which may be detachably mounted in various different positions Within the sheath element 50. These lens elements are, however, mounted, not directly in the sheath, but in tubular elements which are slightly smaller than the sheath so that they fit into it. These tubular elements are the liner elements 90, 100, 110, and the eyecup element 150.

The liner elements 90, 100, 110 (Figs. 10*, 10", 10, 10), are all stamped from sheet metal in the form of tubes with an open longitudinal joint 91, the outer diameter.

of the tubes being givena minus tolerance when the joint is closed, while the inner diameter is given a plus tolerance. The element 90 is adapted for joining together two sheath elements 50 and has a central ment 50, generally for the purpose of focussing, and have their outer ends 101 and 111 curled and wired to facilitate grasping by the fingers. The element 100 has an internal rib 102 and three equi-distant abutments 103 adapted to position optical elements. The element llOhas an internal flange or abutment 112. w

. There are two lens elements 120 and 130 which fit directly inside the liner elements.

The element 120 (Figs."11", 11") includes aplano-convex lens 121. The lens 121 may be adapted for fitting directly into the liner elements v90, 1.00,. or 110, or its peripheral edge may be protected by a rim 122 of metal,

preferably. a soft metal or al1oy,'for example of lead and tin, which may be closed preferably clinched together. The cylindrical periphery of the mounting is such that the element is adapted to fit interchangeably into any of the liner elements.

To retain these lens elements, and particularly element 120 in position within any.

i of the liner elements 90, 100', 110, spring retainer elements 140 are provided.

The spring retainer element 140 (Figs. 13, 13") is formed by'bending a narrow strip of sheet metal or a wire into circular form with an open'joint. This element is adapted to retain optical elements within the liner elements by being inserted in the manner hereafter shown, and, for this purpose, is so constructed that, when the butt joint is closed, the outer diameter has a minus tolerance, but when the ring is normally free, -the butt joint becomes opened and the outer diameter then has a plus tolerance. I

The eyecup element 150 (Fig. 14) is formed from sheet metal and comprises a trumpet-shaped portion 151 about 1% inch diameter, and a tubular portion 152 which is adapted to fit interchangeably within the sheath element 50. It has an internal stop or abutment 153.

The lens elements 170, which are used inthe eyecup do not fit directly into it, but are mounted in the eyecup by means ofcage elements 160.

The cage element 160 (Figs. 15 15') consists of a cup-shaped metal stamping 161 having a central aperture 162 and three spring bars 163 adapted to be sprung into and fit within the eyecup element 150.

The lens element 170 (Figs. 16, 16) may be seated in the cage element 160. This element 170 comprises a plano-convex lens '171 mounted by enclosing it between two annular metal stampings 172, 173, having cylindrical portions fitting the one within the other and clinched together; prefer is similar to the cage element 160, and;

like it adapted to fit within the eyecup element 150. The element 180 has, however, on each of its bars 183 a projection 184, slightly dome-shaped, formed by pressing the metal from without, and adapted to be sprung over-the part 161 of the ca e element 160, and a lateral projection 1 5 bent inwardlyso as to form an abutment to position the annular end 181 of the element 180, as shown in Fig. 49 for example, at a predetermined distance from (the end of the element 160 to which it is attached," this distance beingsuch, for example, that I the element 170, when placed in the cage 1.60, is in focus in the plane of the aperture 182 of the element 180. The plate forming the end of the element 180 may be pierced with four small holes 186, in which cross-wires 187 may be secured for sighting or positioning the image of an object. I

The spacer elements 190 and 190 (Figs; 18", 18 18) have the form of cylindrical cubes bent from sheet metal, with their edgesunjointed, and differ only as to length, their outer diameter being adapted for fitting within other elements such as the cage element 160 and the liner elements 90, 100, 110: The lengths of these spacers are adapted for suitably spacing two different lens elements 170, and, for this purpose, spacers of different. lengths are provided. r

In the above description of the elements which fit within the sheath element- 50 the usual manner of combinin these elements has been described. It shou d be noted, how-' ever, that as the internal diameter of the liner elements 90, 100, 110, and the internal diameter of the eyecup element 150 are substantially the same, the lens elements 120, 130 may be fitted directly within the eyecup instead of within the liners, and conversely lens elements 170, when mounted in cage elements 160, may be fitted into any one of the liners instead of into the eyecup. Furthermore, the spacin cage 180 and spacer elements 190, 190, tiinto any of the liners as well as into the eyecup. v

In general I give the lenses of elements 30,

120 and 170 plane-convex form, but do not limit myself to this form. These lenses and the lens of element 130 I prefer to make of ordinary rolled plate lass.

The focal length 0 certain of the lens.

elements which have been described most desirably bear a definite relationship to each other. The lenses of the elements 170 and 1 20 respectively have focal lengths of 1% and 7 units, preferably inches, respectively, or approximately in such ratio that, by combining two elements 170 there is produced a lens of about of a unit focal'length, and,

'by combining two elements'120, there is produced a lens of about 3% units focal length, whereby it is possible to obtain lenses whose focal lengths vary in geometrical progression, namely, 1%, 3% and 7, such a series being well adapted for constructing most optical instruments in the simplest manner. The lens element 60 is most desirably .of about 1% units focal length, and the element 6,0 of about of a unit focal length, 

